SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:12
Y oyeron una gran voz del cielo, que les decía: Subid ac. Y subieron al cielo en una nube, y sus enemigos los vieron.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Revelation 11:12
Verse 12. They ascended up to heaven] Enjoyed a state of great peace and happiness.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 12. And they heard a great voice from heaven , etc.] The Complutensian edition reads, I heard, i.e. John; and so the Syriac and Arabic versions; but the copies in general read they; not the enemies, but the witnesses: and this seems not to come from any Christian civil magistrate in the church, but from Christ himself; not but that Christ may make use of, such for the bringing of his people into a more glorious and comfortable state in this world: saying unto them, come up hither ; as the angel said to John, ( Revelation 4:1), and Christ will say to his people, though on another account, ( Matthew 25:34). And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud ; which is to be understood not literally, for no man hath ascended to heaven, nor will any, until the thousand years are ended, when the saints will, in a body, ascend thither; but mystically, of a more glorious state of the church; so to ascend to heaven signifies a more exalted state in a prince, or a kingdom, ( Isaiah 14:13); and here intends a state of comfortable communion of the saints one with another, of great purity and holiness, of large enjoyments of blessings and privileges, and of great security from enemies, and of great glory, and honour, and power, that shall be bestowed upon them; they now dwelling on high, and their place of defence being the munition of rocks. This will be the beginning of the spiritual reign of Christ; and this ascension of the witnesses will be in a cloud, in allusion to our Lord's ascension to heaven, and as expressive of that glory and majesty which will be put upon these risen witnesses, and in which they shall enter into this happy state of things; or it may be, that this may denote that the first appearance of these happy times, and of Christ's spiritual reign in his church, and their more comfortable enjoyment, will be at first but dim and obscure, and yet such as, in comparison of their former state, will be visible to, and be taken notice of, even by their very enemies: and their enemies beheld them ; going up to heaven, or entering into a purer, and more glorious, and spiritual state; for the mountain of the Lord's house will be established upon the top of the mountains, and Jerusalem shall be made the praise of the whole earth, an eternal excellency, and the joy of many generations; and this shall be seen and known of all, though to their grief and sorrow.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 3-13 - In the time of treading down, God kept his faithful witnesses to attes the truth of his word and worship, and the excellence of his ways, The number of these witnesses is small, yet enough. They prophesy i sackcloth. It shows their afflicted, persecuted state, and deep sorro for the abominations against which they protested. They are supporte during their great and hard work, till it is done. When they ha prophesied in sackcloth the greatest part of 1260 years, antichrist the great instrument of the devil, would war against them, with forc and violence for a time. Determined rebels against the light rejoice as on some happy event, when they can silence, drive to a distance, or destroy the faithful servants of Christ, whose doctrine and conduc torment them. It does not appear that the term is yet expired, and the witnesses are not a present exposed to endure such terrible outwar sufferings as in former times; but such things may again happen, an there is abundant cause to prophesy in sackcloth, on account of the state of religion. The depressed state of real Christianity may relat only to the western church. The Spirit of life from God, quickens dea souls, and shall quicken the dead bodies of his people, and his dyin interest in the world. The revival of God's work and witnesses, wil strike terror into the souls of his enemies. Where there is guilt there is fear; and a persecuting spirit, though cruel, is a cowardl spirit. It will be no small part of the punishment of persecutors, bot in this world, and at the great day, that they see the faithfu servants of God honoured and advanced. The Lord's witnesses must not be weary of suffering and service, nor hastily grasp at the reward; but must stay till their Master calls them. The consequence of their being thus exalted was a mighty shock and convulsion in the antichristia empire. Events alone can show the meaning of this. But whenever God' work and witnesses revive, the devil's work and witnesses fall befor him. And that the slaying of the witnesses is future, appears to be probable.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ εν 1722 PREP εκεινη 1565 D-DSF τη 3588 T-DSF ωρα 5610 N-DSF εγενετο 1096 5633 V-2ADI-3S σεισμος 4578 N-NSM μεγας 3173 A-NSM και 2532 CONJ το 3588 T-NSN δεκατον 1182 A-NSN της 3588 T-GSF πολεως 4172 N-GSF επεσεν 4098 5627 V-2AAI-3S και 2532 CONJ απεκτανθησαν 615 5681 V-API-3P εν 1722 PREP τω 3588 T-DSM σεισμω 4578 N-DSM ονοματα 3686 N-APN ανθρωπων 444 N-GPM χιλιαδες 5505 A-NPF επτα 2033 A-NUI και 2532 CONJ οι 3588 T-NPM λοιποι 3062 A-NPM εμφοβοι 1719 A-NPM εγενοντο 1096 5633 V-2ADI-3P και 2532 CONJ εδωκαν 1325 5656 V-AAI-3P δοξαν 1391 N-ASF τω 3588 T-DSM θεω 2316 N-DSM του 3588 T-GSM ουρανου 3772 N-GSM
